Overview Vespa 125

Piaggio revolutionised the design of Italian 125cc scooters with the introduction of the VNA series. This model series marked the end of the traditional design with the Headlight Unit on the Mudguard(lamp at the bottom) and ushered in the era of the so-called Largeframe. These frames consisted of two longitudinally welded pressed sheet metal halves and were used for both 125cc and 150cc models.

Vespa 125 model history

The VNA series from Piaggio departed from the previous tubular handlebar, which was typical of the 125cc models. Instead, a completely redesigned handlebar unit was inserted, which featured an integrated Headlight Unit as well as internally routed wires and cables. The Handlebar was made up of two pressed sheet metal halves, with the upper half in particular standing out for its ease of maintenance, as it was easy to dismantle. However, it was decided to switch to cast aluminium Handlebars in later models, presumably due to concerns about susceptibility to rust and stability.
The ACMA 125 Type N model, which was produced under licence in France, is largely identical to the Vespa 125 VNA in terms of its specifications and features.

The Engine of the Vespa 125

The Vespa 125 brought many technical innovations with it. For example, the Engine Swing Arm Pivot became an integral part of the left half of the engine instead of being mounted separately as before. The cooling air duct, which had previously been fitted separately, was installed in the right-hand half of the engine. The kick-start mechanism was also revised: instead of the previous kick-start bell, a lever with kick-start shaft and toothed segment was introduced. The Air Filter and carburettor unit, which had previously been housed in the chassis, was relocated above the Cylinder. This innovation enabled the Vespa to draw the petrol-air mixture directly from the Dellorto UA 16 SI Carburettor without the use of an Intake Manifold. These improvements led to a significant reduction in the noise level to below 81 phons.

Used Vespa 125 market situation

Where are you looking for this vehicle?

• At your trusted Vespa dealer

• Classified adverts in the local newspaper

• Markets and trade fairs such as Mostra Scambis in Italy

• Online marketplaces such as www.mobile.de, www.autoscout24.de etc.

Other Vespa 125

On the German version of the Vespa 125 VNA with Seat, the Choke Lever has a special design. It faces forwards and is positioned below the top of the Seat. Due to the limited tuning options of the directly aspirated engine, many owners nowadays decide to retrofit the VNA with an engine from the PX or T5 series. Interestingly, this conversion is also possible while retaining the VNA's 8-inch wheels. Another specific feature of the VNA is its Fuel Tap, which has a smaller diameter at the connection point to the Tank and whose outlet points vertically downwards. The union nut in the Tank has a spanner width of 22 mm.

The colours of the Vespa 125:

Colour	Colour Name	Max Meyer Code	Colour info
	Grigio	15046	1957-1958
	Grigio beige chiaro	15099	1958-1959
	Grigio	1.268.0983	Frame Parts
	Grigio	8012M	Rust protection/primer

Sources